Evener or draft equalizer



Nov. 27 1923.

W GREENHECK ET AL EVENER 0R DRAFT EQUALIZEH Filed Oct. 11 1919 Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNITED sarss I V 1,425,486 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GREENHECI? AND ANTON GBEENH-ECK, OF LONE ROCK, WISCONSIN.

EVENER OR DRAFT EQUALIZER.

Application filed October 11, 1919. Serial No. 330,141.

provements in Eveners or Draft Equalizers,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the ac companying drawing. Y

This invention relates to improvements in draft eveners or equalizers. Among the objects of the invention are; providing an evener having parts such that it can easily be attached to or detached from a vehicleor other implement; mounting it so that it will be held firmly in position while in use; having its parts so related that there shall be no whipping when draft is being exerted; inclosing the smaller connecting and power transmitting parts and holding them against vertical displacement; and providing a structure which will be simple and durable.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mechanism embodyin our improvements.

Fig. 2 s ows the top plate .ofthe base detached.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of-the lower plate of the base detached.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 44 of Flg. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, but with the leverage elements of the equalizer removed.

Fig. 6 is a View of the top plate from the rear.

' Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the lower plate of the base with the tongue clamps attached.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the evener with the tongue and hounds shown in section.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1 showing some of the parts of the device in elevation.

We have shown our improved equalizer as applied to the draft devices of a wagon or truck requiring three or'more horses. A

indicates what we shall term the base structure, as an entirety; 13 indicates the tongue or pole and its attachments; C those elements of the equalizer which constitute the shorter system; and D the parts which constitute the longer system of levers.

The tongue or pole 1 is shown as having hounds 2, 2 rigidly secured to, and diverging rearward from it. The base structure is formed, principally, of a top plate 3 and a bottom plate 4. These are formed of relatively thin light sheet metal, but are so connected by means of the devices to be referred to that they furnish not only a housing for numerous parts, but also a strong base by which the equalizer is attached to the vehicle, and which furnishes numerous abutments and fulcrum points for the leverage systems. I

At 5, 5 there are relatively large registering apertures in the upper and lower plates. In these are fitted the reduced end parts of a spacing thimble 6, the end parts passing through the apertures 5 and having their metal upset or riveted so as to fasten them immovably in the plates. The thimble is a hollow cylinder with a large passage- Way for a bolt, suitable for fastening the device to the vehicle.

7, 7 are similar apertures in the plates which receive the ends of the thimble'8, the enlarged part of which, in this case, serves also as the pivot or one of the parts'of the 1 tween the plates, the nut 12 firmly clamping together the parts at this point.

18, 13 are also apertures at the end, and near the rear edge of the plates. Between the plates is a spacing thimble 14, having washers 15 adjacent the plates, and-through which passes the binding bolt 16.

At the places respectively indicatedbyl? and 18 there are apertures in the plates, to-

gether with thimbles, bolts and washers,

similar to those at 13, 14, 15, 16. 1 i

19 is a lever having an aperture 20 near one end, large enough to receive the thimble 8 and permit thelever'to hinge around it. The short arm is indicated by 21, and the longer arm by 22.

23 is a long draft lever having an aperture 24 near its inner end, the thimble at 14 fitting this aperture and serving as the'fulcrum for the lever, 25 being the short arm and 26 the long arm of the latter. At 29 the lever is apertured to receive the link of a whiffletree or two-horse eveneri' The short arm 25 is connected to the short arm 21 of lever 19 by links 28, which latter are joined to the levers by riveted pivots.

29 is a short lever projecting from the base oppositely from the long lever 23. Its inner end is joined to the base by the bracing and pivoting devices at 18. Tts outer end is provided with an aperture or means for flexibly connecting it to singletree. 35 is a lever pivoted to the base by the devices at 36, which pass through an aperture at 17. The inner end of this lever 35 is connected to the longer arm of the lever 19 by means of links 37 having their encs joined to the levers by riveted pivots. The outer ends of the lever 35 are connect-ed by links 38 to the draft lever 29. The axial line of attachment of these links can be varied in relation to the lever 29, the latter being provided with a series of apertures 32, 33, E i, and the pivot bolt 39 bein adjustable from one to another of these apertures.

The base, and with it, the parts attached thereto, can be held firmly in position with relation to the tongue and vehicle by clamps 40, adjustably mounted on the underplate 4. Each clamp has a downward projecting leg a l adapted to bear against. the side surface of the tongue or one of the hounds, and a horizontal lip flange 5 lying under and bearing upward against the tongue or a hound.

Each clamp is held by a pivot bolt 41 and an adjustable set bolt 4-3. The latter has its head above the bottom plate a, which is slotted concentrically with the pivot bol ll, the slot 43* permitting the bolt 43 and the clamp to swing from one position to another and.

firmly be set as desired.

The base part is fastened in place by the swivel clamp 46, this having an upper element 4:7 and a lower element 47*, the former adapted to lie above the base or housing. One or more bolts are used, adapted to pass through the thimbles 6 and 8, and the clamp, as an entirety, is secured to the draft or tongue device by a bolt 48. j

The differential power transmitting lever 19 is secured to the base by a pivot approximately in the central vertical longitudinal plane. Its short is connected to the in ner short arm of the long main lever 23 and hence has movements opposite to those of the outer end of said lever. The longer arm of the ditlerential lever transmits power through the link 37 to the load carrying or outer end part of the short lever 29. The supplemental lever 35 and the several parts of the differential power transmitting system cause the outer ends of the long main lever and of the short main lever to move opposltely each other.

The advantages incident to an evener or e ualizin mechanism such as described and illustrated will be readily understood. The mechanism, as an entirety, can be a'pplied to any of the ordinary vehicles notwithstanding the variatigns in the lateral dimensions of the parts to which the evener is fastened, the adjustable clamps at at) covering the range ofordinary variations.

The housing comprising the plates 3 and l furnishes awide rigid base with which the laterally projecting levers and the interposed levers or power transmitters can loose 1y engage vertically, and by which they are held in predetermined horizon al planes,although they are free to move under varying stresses. The parts of the leverage systems which are within the outlines of the base can besmall and light. because of the reinforcement provided the rousing or base structure that holds the pivots of all or the governing levers in rigid relation with each other; and, as noted, the bracing-thimble devices permit the use ot light plates or bars for this base.

Tt will be understood that there are numerous modifications which can be made without departing from the essential featuresof the invention.

W hat we claim is:

1. The combination of the base structure, the relatively short main lever extending laterally from the base on a transverse line, the relatively long main lever extending oppositely laterally from the base on another transverse line, the differential lever aligned transversely with one 01" the main levers, a supplemental lever aligned with the other main lever, the link extending from the shorter main lever to the supplemental lever, the link extending from the long main lever to the differential lever, and the link connecting the differential and the supplemental levers, said parts all lying in transverse lines between those of the two main levers.

2. The combination with'the base structure supporting and housing the movable power transmitting parts, or the short main lever extending laterally on a transverse line, thelong main lever extending oppositely on a transverse line behind the transverse line oi the short main lever, th suplemental lever behind the short main lever, the differential lever in front of the long main lever and extendingacross the central longitudinal line oi"? the base structure, the two links pivoted to the differential lever and extending backward therefrom and re spectively pivoted to the long main lever and to the supplemental lever, andthe adjustable link extending backward from the short main lever to the supplemental lever.

Tn testimony whereot, we onr'signatures. WILLIAM GREENHECK.

ANTON GREENHEGK} 

